Why do doors in public toilets open inwards?

Question

When I go in I can kick the door with my foot to open it, but when I go back out, I need to pull the dirty handle to open it (after I have washed my hands)

Safety - in the same way you don't know who is on the other side of the door when you enter.

Answer 1

It's building standards, to protect privacy. You will notice it's the same with all doors in your house. Bedroom doors need to open into the smallest area of the room for the same reason.
Aren't I clever??

Answer 2

That's why most have a waste basket next to the door, for people that use a paper towel to open the door with to deposit there.

They open inwards as a courtesy to the person inside, or so is the idea. That way if they feel they are being intruded upon, then they can block another person from entering. It's the same reason most of the stall doors inside also open into the stall. The exception are those made for wheelchair access, which is only because there is no other way to make it work except to have them open outwards.

Answer 3

Just think if the door lock doesn't work and you have to use it really bad and you don't know how to keep the door shut because you cant keep it close with your hand because it opens outwards. Now if this happen to you and the door opens inwards you could place your hand and stop the door to be open. Don't you think this make you feel more confident?

Answer 4

If you need to use the toilet in a steaming hurry the doors need to open inward. After washing my hands I take a paper towel to use when pulling on the handle where all the dirty buggers who don't wash have corrupted it. If there are no paper towels, use a tissue or a sheet of paper from the loo.
Healthy hunting........

Answer 5

I think you are talking about the main door not the stall door..since you wash your hands and then exit the bathroom, just do what I do...use the paper towel you dried your hands with to open to the door. I used to work where there was a public restroom and It was so nasty in there.

Answer 6

I think it's for privacy #1. If someone is in there they can stop the door from being opened (referring to the stall doors).

The main doors would be so that the doors do not open out into the hallways. Do agree though about the handwashing thing....& am glad at the new malls & buildings that they have created "hallways" into the washrooms so there are no doors other than the stall doors.

Answer 7

Public toilets are usually located in rather tight spaces. Doors opening outwards risk bumping the waiting person outside.

Answer 8

The thing is when you come out, if the door opened outwards it could hit the people waiting outside? Glad you wash your hands though.

Answer 9

to prevent ppl from getting hurt. as you wouldn't know who is exactly standing outside the toilet waiting for you to come out.
If the door is make to be open outwards, then when a person stand infront of the door would get hurt if you just kick open the door or whatever

Answer 10

especially much all doors open into the room. that's because of the fact passers by making use of may be hit by making use of the door if it have been to swing the different course. the only exception i've got seen are the lab doors the place I artwork. you will possibly be able to desire to stroll down the middle of the corridor because of the fact now and back human beings popping out of the labs do no longer provide as much as think of while they fling open the door. As for the hygiene subject, I somewhat have constantly washed and dried my palms, and saved the towel to apply to open the door. now and back the receptacle is close to the door that i will then toss it, or I throw it away as quickly as I pass one. that's no longer a brilliant deal.

Answer 11

They shouldn't be! It is probably a space saving exercise but for safety they should open outwards, if someone collapses behind it the best thing is if the door opend outwards so they can be helped.